February, 2014

• 3 February

  Labor Day review

  

  Based on Joyce Maynard’s 2009 novel, Labor Day marks a departure for director Jason Reitman, best known for indie-coms with a side order of snark, from Thank You For Smoking to Young Adult . A kidnap tale with minimal violence that evolves into a low-temperature romance, this is an odd …

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• 3 February

  The Lego Movie review

  

  For more than 60 years, LEGO’s been a peerlessly popular toy brand. Despite its ‘educational value’, the minifigures have charmed with their cute simplicity – an unassuming blandness that’s seen them seamlessly adapt various big-name properties ( Star Wars, The Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potte r, all the key …

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• 3 February

  The Patrol review

  

  Finally, a British answer to The Hurt Locker , in this Raindance-winning drama about a troubled tour of Helmand Province. Writer/director Tom Petch is ex-army and the film feels authentic in action – or, rather, inaction , as disgruntled grunts question their kit, their tactics and the entire Afghanistan war …

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January, 2014

• 29 January

  Anthony and Joe Russo set to direct Captain America 3 starring Chris Evans

  

  Captain America: The Winter Soldier (opens in new tab) hasn’t even hit cinemas yet, but Marvel are already looking ahead to Captain America 3 , and Anthony and Joe Russo are reportedly set to direct again. According to Variety , Captain America 3 hasn’t even been greenlit yet, but the …

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• 27 January

  Sundance 2014: Whiplash reaction review

  

  A movie about a college jazz drummer from an unknown director, starring Miles Teller and J K Simmons doesn’t exactly scream mainstream hit. But take our word for it, Whiplash , which picked up both the Grand Jury and Audience awards for best picture at the Sundance Film festival this …

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• 27 January

  50 Greatest Christian Bale Moments

  

  The Munchies The Source: Pac-Man Cereal Commercial (1984) The Moment: We all have to start somewhere. Bale’s first recorded acting gig saw him one of four kids dancing in delight at the prospect of cereal shaped like Atari’s ghost-bothering pill-guzzler. Shoes The Source: Shaft (2000) The Moment: The same year …

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• 27 January

  Lone Survivor review

  

  The low Oscar hum surrounding Peter Berg’s late hopeful poses a question: can the director of Battleship and The Kingdom make a serious film about conflict in Afghanistan? The surprising answer is “yes”, the less surprising caveat: “to a point”. For “yes”, consider the pulverising mid-section, where Berg takes navy …

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• 26 January

  Colin Farrell wishes Ben Affleck luck with Batman

  

  In issue 216 of Total Film magazine , Colin Farrell reveals that he’s sure his Daredevil (opens in new tab) co-star Ben Affleck will do “a great job” as Batman in Man Of Steel 2 (opens in new tab) . Inside the issue – which is available for just £1.99 …

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• 25 January

  Marc Webb describes The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as huge

  

  In issue 216 of Total Film magazine , director Marc Webb reveals that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (opens in new tab) is even bigger than its already-pretty-sizeable predecessor. Inside the issue – which is available for just £1.99 on your iPad (opens in new tab) – Webb describes Peter Parker’s …

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• 24 January

  Terminator: Genesis loses financial backer

  

  Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures, the production company that got the ball rolling on the next instalment of the Terminator franchise has dropped out as a co-financier and will no longer help to fund the film. However, Terminator: Genesis will still be funded by David Ellison’s (Megan’s brother) Skydance Productions and …

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